1907 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS, FORESTS AND MINES. 269 



ubout being removed from the Province, or tkat the person indebted to him 

 has absconded with intent to defraud his creditors, or that the saw logs or 

 timber are about being cut into lumber so that they cannot be identified. 

 In case the claim is established on a hearing before a Judge, the logs or 

 timber so in default of payment are to be sold in the same manner as goods 

 taken in execution for the satisfaction of the judgment. Any number of 

 lien-holders may join in taking proceedings under the Act. 



By an amendment adopted in 1894, the provisions of the Act were 

 extended to the districts of Muskoka and Parry Sound. 



FOREST PROTECTION AND REFORESTRATION. 

 FiEE Protection. 



The great danger to the forests is the ravages of fire, which becomes 

 largely increased with the advance of settlement, the extension of the rail- 

 way system and the j>resence during the summer season of large numbers of 

 persons in the woods. Great inroads have been made upon our woodland 

 resources by devastating forest fires and with the increasing value of timber, 

 the necessity of taking some action to check this cause of destruction, early 

 forced itself upon the attention of the Government. 



In 1859, Mr. P. M. Partridge, Superintendent of Woods and Forests, 

 appears to have referred to the question of fire protection in a general report 

 made to the Commissioner of Ciown Lands. This report, which was not 

 printed, does not seem to have been productive of any legislation on the 

 subject, and in 1867, the matter having become urgent because of the greater 

 activity among mining prospectors in the Hastings and Ottawa districts, 

 Mr. Partridge again addressed the Commissioner of Crown Lands as fol- 

 lows : — 



Memorandum for the Hon. The Commissioner of Crown Lands. 



The undersigned respectfully submits the accompanying extract from 

 his General Report of 24th March, 1859. "On the necessity of taking some 

 immediate action for the preservation of the Forests of the country from 

 fires." 



As it is probable that very extensive prospecting operations for gold 

 will be carried on next summer in parts of the territories of Messrs. Way 

 and Russell and that the numerous camps and other fires which the pros- 

 pectors will undoubtedly make use of, will be additional sources of danger 

 to our Forests, the undersigned would suggest that it is desirable that such 

 precautionary measures be taken as the present laws admit of, and the inter- 

 ests of the lumber trade and the country require. 



If a Gold Mining Division is organized, and an Inspector appointed, 

 he might be clothed with such powers as the laws allow. The powers men- 

 tioned in Section 3 of the Gold Mining Act (27-28 Vict. Cap. 9^) taken in 

 connection with sections 25 and 28 of Cap. 93, Con. Stats., Canada, might 

 perhaps be made applicable in the premises. A cautionary clause might 

 be inserted in all Gold Mining Licenses for the future. 



(Sgd.) P. M. Partridge, 



Supt. Woods and Forests. 



Ottawa, 21st February, 1867. 

 Woods and Forests, 



P- S. — The undersigned had intended to add that the Law Officers of 

 the Crown might be consulted as to what steps should be taken. 



P. M. P. 



